The Three Tenors & Star Soprano

Hailed as Ireland’s Greatest Voices The Three Tenors return to Cork Opera House for one night only on Thursday March 11th. Their unique show with their own brand of humour, features the world’s most beautiful songs from Elvis (Love me Tender), Sinatra (My Way), Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge Over Troubled Water), Leonard Cohen (Halleluia), Pavarotti (Nessun Dorma), and many more beautiful songs.
    
Ireland’s hottest trio, John Scott, David Martin and Declan Kelly will be joined by a Star Soprano and top Violinist, artistes who will delight and thrill you all.   

“thrilling the crowd with a wonderfully polished performance... outstanding performances…it's easy to see why they are called 'Ireland's Greatest Voices'!"  - Belfast Community Telegraph

Kodo Drummers
Presented in Cork City Hall

Experience the immense power of the world's most celebrated Japanese drum ensemble. KODO's highly acclaimed One Earth Tour visits Cork with an exuberant new performance, reflecting the influences of recent solo, ensemble and collaborative work.

Please note that this Cork Opera House presentation will be performed in Cork City Hall.

Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, KODO are forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form. Inspired by their recent creative explorations, the cast of seven men and five women will deliver a potent selection of Kodo's vast repertoire distilled to its core essentials.  This phenomenal group of Drummers captivates audiences worldwide with their unique combination of dynamic drumming, exquisite musicianship and pure theatre. Nearly three decades since its founding, Kodo is still seeking new directions and inspiration, both on the world stage and in the fabric of daily life.

Click here to view the Kodo programme.

"Superlatives don't really exist to convey the primal power and bravura beauty of Kodo." - Chicago Tribune

Please note that the doors for this performance open at 7:30pm.  As the waiting area in City Hall is limited, we suggest that patrons not arrive before 7:30pm.

An Evening with Johnny McEvoy

With special guest Roy Buckley

Johnny McEvoy is one of the biggest record sellers ever in Ireland. He became a national name back in the mid sixties with hits such as Muirsheen Durkin and The Boston Burglar and more importantly is considered one of the best songwriters this country has ever produced.

Gilbert O Sullivan

Raglane Entertainment is very proud to announce an Irish tour with the legendary Gilbert O’Sullivan.

The performances will be hugely entertaining for Gilbert fans old and new. The Waterford born superstar will be performing all of his massive worldwide hits. He is also hoping to release his new album ‘Mum’s The Word’ in February 2010 and will be treating fans to a little taste of the new music during his live shows.

Gilbert O’Sullivan dates always sell out early, so fans are advised not to delay in booking their tickets!

Showband Nostalgia

Featuring Diarmuid O' Leary and the Bards with Louise Morrissey.

Jack L

With the Electric Gospel Choir

They'll raise the roof in Cork Opera House when Jack performs with his full band and the 20-voice Electric Gospel Choir. Congratulations to Jack for his 2010 Meteor Awards nomination in the Best Irish Male category.

“perhaps the most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade” – Irish Independent

Jimmy MacCarthy

Following his sell-out performance last year, Ireland’s most celebrated songwriter returns to perform new songs and all his hits including No Frontiers, Ride On and Mystic Lipstick.

A one-time apprentice at a racing stable and a singer, Jimmy MacCarthy is best known as a songwriter. Composing since the late 1970's, his songs have been recorded by many Irish Artists, including Christy Moore, ("Ride On", "Missing You", "The Contender"),  Westlife ("Angel's Wings" ) , The Corrs, The Celtic Tenors, Tommy Fleming, Paddy Reilly, Frances Black, Moving Hearts, Sean Keane, The Furey Brothers and many more. Mary Black has recorded many of Jimmy's songs, most notably "Katie", "No Frontiers" and "As I leave Behind Neidin".  Mary Coughlan recorded "Ancient Rain" and also a version of "Ride On".

In his own recording career, Jimmy MacCarthy released three albums, "The Song of the Singing Horseman", "The Dreamer" and "The Moment". His debut album, "The Song of the Singing Horseman" has been described as having a "masterly blend of pop melodies, trad fiddles, Spanish guitars, country & western rhythms and chamber music strings".  MacCarthy's third album, "The Moment", features co-writers on five of its tracks, including a song written with Graham Lyle, (The songwriter of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with it?").  

In 1998, Jimmy MacCarthy released an album together with Tommy Fleming, Frances Black, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Maura O' Connell and Mary Coughlan which they named "Warmer For The Spark"  the songs of Jimmy MacCarthy Volume One. Jimmy MacCarthy wrote every song on this album and sang two of them.

In 2007, a charity album named "Tuesdays Child" was released which included MacCarthy's "Wonder Child", as well as songs from Westlife, Ronan Keating and Brian Kennedy. The Corkman was honoured to receive "The Freedom Of Macroom" in April 2008 for his achievements in songwriting. He was only the third person in the town's history to be awarded the freedom of the town.

Now Jimmy MacCarthy is back on the road to perform and record the whole body of his life's work including new material. 

A Celebration Concert remembering

A Tribute to Josef Locke
Hear My Song

Starring Sean Costello
With Vladimir Jablokov and the Slovak Festival Orchestra Musicians

From the producers of "Mario Lanza - The Loveliest Night of the Year"

Tenor Sean Costello will perform I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen; Santa Lucia; The Soldier's Dream; Good Bye; Come Back to Sorrento; Hear My Song Violetta; Galway Bay; The Drinking Song and many more.

Pat Egan presents

Hermione Hennessy
Songs My Father Taught Me

The name Christie Hennessy is well-known in the pantheon of Irish music Legends. His death left an enormous hole in the music scene but his music will ensure his legacy will stay alive eternally. And proving that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, his daughter Hermione releases her new album Songs My Father Taught Me on February 26th, a record that not only pays tribute to Christie, but an album he urged her to make before he died.

Cork audiences will have a chance to hear Hermione Hennessy perform live when she visits the Half Moon Theatre in Cork Opera House on Saturday 10 April at 8:30pm.

Hermione is a classically trained pianist with a voice inherited from a legend. In the past she has duetted with her father on such tracks as Mr Blue, Gettin’ Over You and If You Were To Fall.

She has spent her working life in the music industry, helping nurture and develop acts such as Kami Thompson (Richard and Linda’s daughter) and Judie Tzuke, Feeder and The Soldiers, as well as creatively aiding a diversity of acts from Groove Armada through to Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, via Will Smith and R Kelly, through her company Black and Blonde.

Now it’s time for Hermione to shine. Since Christie's death, she has been managing his back catalogue and taking care of the legacy. This album is as much about him as it is about Hermione.

Songs My Father Taught Me showcases a performer whose entire life has been steeped in the poetry and music of Ireland, with vocal stylings that remind of the likes of Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, right up to the beautiful and dramatic style of Ute Lemper.

Hermione is embarking on a five venue, saying “I plan to sing songs he loved, songs I grew up with, songs he wanted me to sing from when I first started playing the piano up to his passing, along with the songs that made the record. And it is my intention to take his music to the world and keep his name alive.”

Click here to listen to Hermione's latest single

Nights on Broadway - The Bee Gees Story

This is the show that Bee Gees fans everywhere have been waiting for!
‘Nights on Broadway - The Bee Gee’s Story' will amuse charm and delight all Bee Gee’s and music fans alike.

Through words and music, the show tells of the remarkable highs and lows in the lives of the Barry, Robin and  Maurice Gibb. The Bee Gees catalogue of hits is presented by a full live band featuring Ireland’s finest musicians with guest artists appearing as some of the many performers for whom the Gibb brothers wrote.

The accompanying narration and big screen presentation tell anecdotes from the boys early days growing up in Manchester before their move to Australia. The highs of their legendary 60s hits and their ‘Saturday Night Fever’ contribution is contrasted by the lows of the band’s break ups and the sad loss of their younger brother Andy.

A cast & crew of 15, costume changes and state of the art sound and lighting compliment the show to give audiences a truly entertaining spectacle.

Whether you favor the golden era of the 60s, the dance floor hits of the 70s, the comeback hits of the 80s & 90s or the string of hits they wrote for various artists along the way, this show has something to entertain everyone, from the novice to the most discerning fan.

The Brothers Gibb will entertain you and “You Should Be Dancin” all the way from “Massachusetts” to “Immortality”.

“From the musicianship to the vocal harmonies, these guys sound so like the Bee Gees it’s scary!”
Brendan O’Carroll (international comedian)

“This is an absolutely superb show.The boys have the vocals down to a fine art.” - Johnny Logan (3 times Eurovision Winner)

The Spirit of Pink Floyd

With a brand new and spectacular world-class production, The Spirit of Pink Floyd Show is breaking new ground , bringing to the stage nine hugely talented vocalists and musicians.

In addition, with a dramatic new lighting show and thought-provoking animations, The Spirit of Pink Floyd Show brings a unique and innovative feel to classic Floyd. Having just completed a sell-out tour of Japan, the band is bringing their stunning new production to British and Irish audiences.

Guaranteed to delight not only Pink Floyd fans but music lovers of all ages, do not miss your chance to see the most electrifying recreation of the music from one of the world's most enduring bands.

Paul Brady & Band

Raglane Entertainment is proud to announce a nationwide tour with the legendary Paul Brady. Brady will be performing classic favourites and songs from his forthcoming new album.  The Northern Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who this year celebrates a phenomenal 45 years in the music business, is one of Ireland's most enduringly popular artists who has forged a worldwide reputation as a passionate and exciting performer.

His songs have been performed by some of the biggest names in music history including Tina Turner, Art Garfunkel, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins and Santana. Paul Brady continues to push out the boundaries not only of his own talent but also of Irish contemporary music on a world platform and has collaborated with names such as Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Bonnie Raitt and Curtis Stigers.

Nik Kershaw

Nik Kershaw (born Nicholas David Kershaw, 1 March 1958, Bristol, England) is an English singer-songwriter. This jazz-funk guitarist was a mid 1980s teen idol whose fifty weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists. Kershaw appeared at Live Aid, and penned hits for Let Loose, The Hollies and a No. 1 for Chesney Hawkes.

The 90s saw him writing for/with, amongst others: Chesney Hawkes, Cliff Richard, Bonnie Tyler, Lulu, Ronan Keating, Jason Donovan, Michael W Smith, Connah Reeves, Nick Carter, The Hollies, Colin Blunstone, Imogen Heap, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Darius, Gary Barlow and Let Loose.

After a break for a number of years to concentrate of songwriting, he briefly poked his head out of the trenches to work with Tony Banks (Genesis) and to record a self-penned duet with Elton John but didn't return to making his own records until 1998 when he released the critically acclaimed "15 Minutes" through Eagle Records. The follow-up album, To Be Frank, was released in 2001. Over the years, Kershaw has collaborated on albums with artists such as Elton John, Bonnie Tyler, Tony Banks, Les Rythmes Digitales, Michael W. Smith and Imogen Heap.

Nik is touring Ireland for the first time in 20 years with the No Frills acoustic tour.  With hits including "I won't let the sun go down on me", "Wouldn't it be good" and "The Riddle" this is bound to be a memorable show.

Altan
25th Anniversary Celebration Tour

Traditional Irish music band Altan celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010. The band evolved from playing informally in sessions and kitchens in Co Donegal with family and friends to becoming one of the most prolific and important exports in traditional Irish music today.
To celebrate their 25th anniversary the band release a new album recorded with the RTE Concert Orchestra getting a world wide release in Europe, Australia, Asia and America. 
 Altan are embarking on their biggest Irish tour in years in April/ May as part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration World Tour.  This tour started in Japan and takes in America, Ireland, UK, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Norway, Italy, Finland and UK, with more dates being pencilled for Australia and Asia.

They have travelled the world from the USA to Japan playing their particular style of fiery Donegal fiddle music, contrasted with poignant melodic Gaelic love songs, in such prestigious venues  as the Sydney Opera House, The Hollywood Bowl, The Alte Opera, Koln, The Royal Albert Hall, London to mention but a few.
The Boston Globe described them "the most important band in the Celtic realm".  In 2006 the Irish government recognised their important contribution to the music industry, by issuing a postage stamp in their honour.

Pat Egan presents

Tony Kenny

Tony has thrilled audiences all over the world with his exceptional talent, entertaining more than two million people.  During his extensive tours of the United States he has had the special honour of singing the American national anthem at a Buffalo Bills/Miami Dolphins football game and he was invited to sing at the White House in Washington, D.C. for then President Bill Clinton.
Tony began his career as the star of the internationally acclaimed stage musicals, "Jesus Christ Superstar", and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Critics described his performances as both "powerful and compelling."

After receiving dozens of awards for his stage and television performances, Tony turned his beautiful voice and theatrical talent to the world of Irish music when he joined the cast of the world famous Jurys Irish Cabaret in Dublin, which recently won Ireland’s National Entertainment Awards "Show of the Year" honours.

Music Machine presents

The Priests

With special guest Camilla Kerslake

Music Machine and COH are delighted to announce, after a phenomenal 2009 including some live dates across the globe and selling close to 2 million records world wide, The Priests play Cork Opera House this June.

It was at St. MacNissi’s College near Carnlough in Co Antrim, where Father Eugene O’Hagan, Father Martin O’Hagan and Father David Delargy met for the first time and realised their musical prowess as a singing trio. Nicknamed Holy Holy Holy by their peers due to their shared determination to enter the priesthood, it was a priest at their school who first noticed how talented they actually were.

The Priests have defied record industry convention by just being themselves; middle-aged Roman Catholic priests who sing. Selling close to two million records worldwide to date, a dream story of world class talent wrapped up in an amazing true story spanning a turbulent lifetime of service, faith and music, with no stunts, no stylists, no make-up, no image and no audio trickery.

The Priests have taken the world by storm. Why the success? They simply sing and they sing with belief. The Priests’ brand new album, ‘Harmony’, is available now! The stunning new album features The Priests singing some all-time classics in their own unique way. Father David says of the new album: 'It seems to be bigger, bolder, more confident. There are some very powerful classical pieces on it.'

Join The Priests with special guest Camilla Kerslake (who was discovered by Gary Barlow ) and their orchestra for a concert not to be missed!

Click here to watch a video clip of special guest Camilla Kerslake.